A Week on the Streets of San Diego

Spreading Health and Happiness on the Streets for the Holidays

In December of 2013 Rob Greenfield spent a week living on the streets of San Diego. Here’s why:

“For the next week I’ll be living on the streets of San Diego. I won’t actually be homeless because I have a home. I won’t get a true street living experience because I’ll know I have resources to fall back on. I won’t be in complete despair because my friends and family will be there for me if needed.

But by living on the streets with no money I hope to see life from a new perspective. I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for what I have and to stop judging books by their covers. I hope to become a more compassionate, understanding, and loving human being. And I hope to learn some killer techniques to get by on less and be more resourceful.

I’ll dumpster dive for food. I’ll drink from public water faucets. I’ll sleep in my sleeping bag under bridges or behind bushes. I’ll use free resources like the library and go for long walks in my city. I’ll bathe in the ocean, breathe in the fresh air, and soak in the sun. I’ll find friendship in people on the streets both “homeless” and “home dwellers.” I’ll have everything I need and nothing that I don’t.

I plan to make a lot of people smile over the next week and I intend to remind people to be grateful for what they have and to focus on health and happiness over the holidays.”

Here are some simple things you can do to make sure everyone is happy this holiday season:

Give from your heart instead of your wallet.

Go out of your way to be nice.

Include everyone.

Focus on what you have, not what you want.

Support local and sustainable businesses.

Eat lots of fruits and veggies and less meat.

Stay hydrated. More water, less booze.

Get plenty of exercise.

Spend some time outside breathing fresh air.

Be grateful just to be alive.

Appreciate your friends, family, & community.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Share your resources.

Remember to treat Earth nicely too.

A meal Rob found on the streets. There was no shortage of food

Reading outside the public library before calling it a night. Rob spent much of his time in the library and slept in front of it a few nights